The future is electric with the ŠKODA VISION E

29/03/2017

ŠKODA's appearance at the Shanghai Motor Show 2017 (19 – 28 April) is characterized by electric change: With the Vision E study, the company provides its first brand-specific outlook on the future of individual mobility. The emotionally designed five-door SUV coupé can travel up to 500 kilometres on purely electric power and meets the level 3 requirements for autonomous driving. ŠKODA is intensively pursuing the electrification of its model range, and will be offering five purely electric models in various segments by 2025.

Tomorrow's mobility – planning and development is in full swing at ŠKODA. The first purely electrically driven and autonomous driving concept car in the company's history embodies the brand’s interpretation of electric vehicles.

At 4,645 mm long, 1,917 mm wide and 1,550 mm tall, the ŠKODA VISION E has great road presence. Thanks to the long wheelbase of 2,850 mm, as well as the short overhangs at the front and rear, the designers have created an extremely spacious interior – as always with ŠKODA. In the future-oriented vehicle concept, the elevated seating position typical of SUV models and the generous space combine with a dynamic silhouette and gently sloping roof line in the style of a coupé.

Thanks to the system output of 225 kW, the ŠKODA VISION E accelerates instantaneously and dynamically. The top speed is 180 km/h (112mph). The powerful lithium-ion batteries and optimal recuperation allow a range of up to 500 kilometres (311 miles). Thanks to intelligent management, the two electric engines cooperate with maximum efficiency and drive the ŠKODA VISION E over all four wheels. The front- and rear-wheel drive is suitably adjusted to ensure the highest degree of stability, dynamism and safety at all times.

With the VISION E, ŠKODA is also providing an outlook on the forms of autonomous driving coming soon. According to the latest surveys, around 15 percent of all new cars could be driving completely autonomously in 2030. The concept car ŠKODA VISION E achieves the prerequisites for level 3 autonomous driving: It can operate independently in traffic jams, go into autopilot on motorways, stay in lane and swerve, carry out overtaking manoeuvres, independently search for free parking spaces and park and leave parking spaces alone. To enable this, various sensors with different ranges and numerous cameras constantly monitor the traffic situation.

Electric mobility strategy

Electromobility plays a key role in the company's global growth strategy. ŠKODA develops its own vehicle concepts for purely electric mobility on the basis of the MEB Group platform.

The electrification of ŠKODA’s model range will begin as early as 2019 with the launch of the ŠKODA SUPERB with plug-in hybrid drive. ŠKODA’s first purely electric series-produced vehicle will be released shortly afterwards in 2020. By 2025, the brand will have expanded its range to include five purely electric cars in various segments.

ŠKODA has once again proved itself to be the brand to beat by dominating the 2018 DieselCar and EcoCar Top 50. The Czech brand was named as class winner in no fewer than four key categories and topped more sectors than any other manufacturer in the influential annual chart.

Motoring review site Honest John has named the ŠKODA KODIAQ its overall 2018 Car of the Year – adding another trophy to the Czech SUV’s remarkable collection. In addition to awarding the KODIAQ its highest honour, Honest John website visitors also named the SUPERB as its Family Car of the Year for the second year in succession.

ŠKODA AUTO continues its growth course. Never before has the Czech traditional brand achieved such a strong result in terms of sales revenue, deliveries and operating profit between January and March. The manufacturer delivered 316,700 vehicles worldwide (+ 11.7%). Operating profit increased by 5.3% to 437 million euros in the same period, while sales revenue increased by 4.9% to 4.5 billion euros.

ŠKODA owners can check the status of their car with just their voice thanks to the integration of ŠKODA Connect and Amazon’s Alexa virtual personal assistant. The technology works across all devices equipped with Alexa Voice Services and allows owners to interact with their vehicles on a completely new level.

ŠKODA UK continued to grow into 2018 with sales remaining buoyant despite the general decline in the new car market. The brand achieved a joint-record first quarter market share of 3.01 per cent (first recorded in 2014), up 0.29 per cent over the same period last year with 21,611 cars finding new homes. ŠKODA also delivered its best-ever March market share of 2.81 per cent, up from 2.43 per cent in 2017, registering 13,300 cars.